The National tribune., 1887-08-25
PRIVATE DALZELL.
lie Pays The National Tribune Some CompII-
ments.


ments.
EDITOR NATIONAL tribune: / do not
know-it cannot be estimated-hOw much we
old soldiers owe the founder of The NATIONAL
TRIBUNE for afording us such an excellent
and ample organ of communication with each
other all over the world. If / were going
abroad-nO matter 10 what island or continent
i should arrange to have THE NATIONAL TRIB-
UNE follow me. When your paper was es-
| tablished we had no such organ anywhere in
| the United States. Many had been tried, but
all had failed to reach the complete standard
OF excellence which your paper long since at
| tanned. These are not words of fulSOme praise,
| but words of truth and s0berness
/ Your paper fills place that was vacant until
| you occupied the field, and all the dailies on
/ the globe could never have filled it.
The daily press has done, is doing, and will
do much for the soldier, but it never did quite
comprehend the soldier and his interests, and
often grossly misrepresented them, e. g., az re.
| the Equalization of Bounty, the Arrears Of Pen
sion, aud the Dependent Pension bills. 1t did
not and could not make the interests of the
100000 survivors Of the Union army a study, a
| speciality as you do. 1t took up with the crude
hasty congratulations of the politicians aud
stay -at-hOmes, and therefore never understood
| US.
In the abstract, the daily newspaper press
likes the sOdier-praises him in the mass, but
individually knows little about him. 1t can
eulogize a great General to perfection. 1t can
eloquently record the great campaigns of the
war, and describe the great battles yet with
marvellous elegance of dietiOn. In general
terms. it can discourse of the flag the patriot
ism of the boys in blue, the leading events of
the war, and the great armies that crushed re-
bellon. Yes. it can do all that and do it well.
With its wonderful facilities for obtaining
news it can print the reports of the principal
l tha a Of
and National EncampmentsO of the GA. r., with
the speeches made there by the great politi-
clans and Generals, and publish long and elO-
quent obituaries Of the more remarkable milf
tary leaders as they pass away. All this it can
do in advance of you, and for this the daily
newspaper press deserves the thanks of the
Union soldiers who first gave the daily press
the impetus and patronage which made it what
it is. The daily press before the war was a
flimsy thing. of little consequence or power.
IL owes all it is TO the soldiers and it does well
to repay that debt as far as lies in its power.
But OF the humble private soldier it knows
nothing. It cannot descend to his humble
level aud enter into and sympathize with
him in his retiracy and poverty, and so get
aud keep his confidence and that of his wife
and BARNS Us you can.
Ii is only by being brought directly in con-
tact with the rank and file, as you are, daily
receiving and answering their letters by thou
sands, patiently listening to the sad complaints
| OF disease, neglect and poverty which So often
wiring your heart with sorrow and touch your
eyelids with tears, that a fair understanding OF
the soldier can ever be reached. Thousands oil
, these dOleful reeitals reach you daily, coming
from soldiers suffering from wounds and dis
ease and poverty beyond expression. And
what letters you receive, too, from the widows
and orphans of our patriotic comrades whC
have left their homes of poverty for the rest Oi
the grave. 1t is only down there, face TO face
heart to heart, that any comprehension of the
soldiers condition can ever be obtained by any
man.
let not ambition mock their useful tolls,
Their homeiy joys aud destiny obscure;
Nor grandeur hear, with dsdanful smile.
The short and simple annals of the poor"
Into these wretched Details often written il
blood and tears, no editor can possibly FIND
: time 10 enter unless he has determined to de
r vote his whole heart aud mind to their redress
, No man who, like myself, has made lift
, study of these matters is fit for anything else
It wrings the soul.
1t possesses one completely. 1t crowds ou
| all other thought and feeling.
There is enough in it TO occupy and thrill
the heart of Christ!
The soldier could not make himself heard
. but for THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE.
It is his only vehicle of expression. If GU
Senators and Congressman wOuld study it thee
would understand US better
The hasty perusal of some distinguished biOg
| raphy or memoir, a glance at the official repOr
| of a battle or campaign, or even the reading o
!. 4 great big polyphloisboian Reunion speech o.
= decoration address, convey but poor idea o
4 the present condition, wants and feelings o
> the boys ia blue who still survive the war 70
= the Union. AS we'll try TO master comic section
u | bv committing the Rule of Three, or attemp
{ to comprehend the Chinese characters by study
< ing a teal box, az TO hope to obtain a cOrree
i and intelligent idea of our soldiers of to-day b.
d reading pOmpOus volumes about the war.
$ Admitted that the Nation owes these veteI
# ans of the Union debt of gratitude and green
II backs that it can never aud has never tried t
II pay. All admit that.
e Admitted that all the soldiers know thi
q and repeat IL among themselves aud to thei
e YOU offer them money as beggars they wi
= knock you down, and if you ever rise agaiI
don't thank me!
Then present bills past DIE, demanding pay!
a This with emphasis!!
The people never gave them cent. The
= gave the people every dollar, yellow. white an
= green, that circulates between the two ocean
n to-day.
Now. then, no pen can describe what thou
= sands of these men suffering to-day froI
" wounds, diseases, and, worst Of ALL poverty an
~ neglect and iugratitude.
As time rolls ON the worse this becomes.
+, 1t appeals to the Nation.
A. And. to conclude this appeal is nowhere s
10 distinctly and emphatically mado throug
= their chosen organ, The NATIONAL TRIBUNE
n the only representative soldiers paper, pa
srceUeacs in the United States. Long may
= flourish, power ut the Capital, scarcely secon
a 30 the President or the Congress, and better
!. far better representing IS than they do there
=. L pDryATr DtIZEII. Caldwcll O.